Information processing method, information apparatus and program

ABSTRACT

An information processing system includes an information management apparatus that accepts image generation requests and an image generation section that generates image data, which is provided independently of the information management apparatus. The information management apparatus issues a job ID in response to a print request from a client, and transmits the job ID and a URL of the image generation apparatus to the client. Based on the URL, the client directly requests the image generation apparatus for image data corresponding to the job ID.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to information processing systems,information processing apparatuses, information processing methods andprograms.

2. Related Background Art

Accompanied by rapid development of the Internet and deployment of alarge number of Web servers, more and more business transactions areconducted on the Web. By simply installing Web browsers that are capableof displaying and entering information on personal computers that areconnected to the network, business transactions can be widely conductedthrough the Web browsers. Also, a Web server is present on the networkin order to conduct business through Web browsers. Information isexchanged between the Web server and Web browsers that are clients. TheWeb server repeats necessary operations, such as, receiving informationentered through the Web browsers, processing the information, andsending the processed results to the Web browsers. As a result, theusers obtain the results of the data processing, and conduct thebusiness.

With respect to printing processing, the following system is providedthe server executes an overlay processing using form data (templatedata) based on a print request that has been sent from a client, anddelivers data that provides fine print results to the client.

However, in the printing processing that is conducted through Webbrowsers in the conventional system, a single control section isentirely responsible for accepting image generation requests fromclients, controlling execution of image generation, and controllingdelivery of generated slip image data.

In the Web system that is essentially asynchronously operated,management of all of these controls by a single control section makesthe system more complex, statuses and data transfer states moredifficult to be understood by the users, and the system management suchas error handling processing more difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the problems describedabove, and relates to a system in which acceptance of image generationrequests by a request control section and generation of image data by animage generation section are separated from each other and independentlycontrolled, and clients directly obtain generated image data from theimage generation section. As a result, the request control section candevote its control to management of statuses of image data generationprocessing, and the processing load can be distributed between therequest control section and the image generation section. In oneembodiment, a plurality of image generation sections may be provided onindividual apparatuses, and image data generation processings may beexecuted in parallel on the plurality of image generation sections.

Also, an embodiment of the present invention provides a device thatallows clients to directly obtain image data from the image generationsection.

Further, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention,image data generation processings are managed by using job IDs that areunique in the system such that the status management is facilitated, andthe progress of data generation processings in response to each imagegeneration request can be readily grasped.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefallowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings that illustrate, by way of example, variousfeatures of embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a exemplary structure of a network printingsystem.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of processings performed by a request controlapparatus to generate data for obtaining images.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a composition of an address list of an imagegeneration apparatus.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a composition of a table for managing jobIDs.

FIG. 5 shows contents of an image obtaining request.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of processings performed by a client to transmitan image obtaining request.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of processings performed by an image generationapparatus to generate image data and transmit the image data to aclient.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of processing performed by a client to print theimage data received.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of processing performed by a request controlapparatus to generate data for obtaining images.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of processings performed by an image generationapparatus to generate image data.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of processings performed by an image generationapparatus to transmit image data to a client.

FIG. 12 shows a status management table.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention is described below in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a functional structure of a network printsystem that is a data processing system (e.g., an image generationsystem) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Thenetwork print system includes a client apparatus 101 (hereafter referredto as a “client”). The client 101 may be composed of an informationprocessing apparatus, such as, for example, a personal computer, a workstation, a portable information processing console, a portable dataassistants (PDA), a host computer, or the like. A request generationsection 102 generates s image generation requests in response toinstructions by the user. An application 108 provides inputs and outputsin and from a server, and may include a Web browser. The application 103has a function to transmit requests generated by the request generationsection 102 and send the generated requests to the server, as well as afunction to transmit requests for obtaining image data (which may alsobe referred to as “image data obtaining requests” below) to designatedimage generation apparatuses based on job IDs issued by the server, anda function to send image data received to a print output section 104.The print output section 104 converts the image data received into aformat that can be outputted by a printer 105 connected to the printoutput section 104. The print output section 104 may be a printerdriver.

A network 106 connects a request control apparatus 109 and the client101. The network 106 can be any type of network that can accommodatecommunication procedures of the Web environments, such as, LAN, theInternet, wireless communication and the like. A network 107 connects animage generation apparatus 112 and the client 101. The network 107 mayhave a similar configuration as that of the network 106. A network 108connects another image generation apparatus and the client 101 like thenetwork 107. By the networks 107 and 108, the client is connected to aplurality of image generation apparatuses. In FIG. 1, the networks 106,107 and 108 are shown independently from one another, but they can becomposed of a single network. Also, the networks 106, 107 and 108 andanother network 122 (to be described below) may be composed of a singlenetwork.

The request control apparatus 109 may be composed of an informationprocessing apparatus, such as, for example, a personal computer, a workstation, a portable information processing console, a portable dataassistants (PDA), a host computer, or the like. A network communicationsection 110 plays a role of at least a part of a Web server A requestcontrol section 111 may be implemented as a part of the Web server, andissues job IDs in response to image generation requests from the client,and controls and manages all requests in the system.

The image generation apparatus 112 may be composed of an informationprocessing apparatus, such as, for example, a personal computer, a workstation, a portable information processing console, a portable dataassistants (PDA), a host computer, or the like. A network communicationsection 113 is provided at the image generation apparatus 112. In otherwords, the image generation apparatus itself has a function of a Webserver. An image generation section 114 generates slip image dataaccording to stipulated formats. Image data may be raster image data orvector image data. A slip form storage section 115 stores slip formsthat are necessary for generating images. A data storage section 116stores data such as a data base including various business data. Animage generation apparatus 117 that is similar to the image generationapparatus 112 is also connected to the client 101. This means that thesystem of the present embodiment includes a plurality of imagegeneration apparatuses. The plurality of image generation apparatusesare provided independently of one another and may be operatedindependently, in a linked manner or in parallel with one another. Theimage generation apparatus 117 is provided with a network communicationsection 118, an image generation section 119, a slip form storagesection 120 and a data storage section 121, which are similar to thenetwork communication section 118, the image generation section 114, theslip form storage section 110 and the data storage section 116 providedat the image generation apparatus 112. The request control apparatus 109and the image generation apparatuses 112 and 117 are connected via anetwork 122.

<Generation of Job IDs>

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of processings performed by the request controlapparatus 109 to generate data for obtaining images upon receiving aprint request from the client 101.

First in step 201, an HTTP request received through a browser or thelike is analyzed; and in step 202, data necessary for generating imagesare specified. The data necessary for generating images may be data thatis inputted by the user at the client, or data that is read from thedata storage section 116.

Then in step 208, slip form data necessary for generating images (sliptemplate data) is specified. In step 204, printer information at thetime of executing prints and print conditions such as the number ofprints are specified.

In step 205, an ID (identification information) for identifying theprint request, which is unique within the system, is generated for theinformation specified in step 202 through step 204, and stored in atable as a job ID corresponding to the print request.

In step 206, an appropriate image generation apparatus is selected basedon image generation apparatus information concerning image generationapparatuses that are in operation. In step 207, an address list (to bedescribed below) of a URL of the selected image generation apparatus isobtained. In step 208, an image obtaining request data is created bycombining the obtained URL and the job ID.

In step 209, the generated image obtaining request data is transmittedto the client. Then, processings at the client side are performed asindicated at 210 (processings in FIG. 8).

FIG. 3 shows an address list 801 of image generation apparatuses, whichis retained and managed by the request control apparatus 109. Theaddress list 801 stores host computer names (hereafter called as “hostnames”) that identify a plurality of Corresponding image generationapparatuses and URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) that are addresses ofthe corresponding image generation apparatuses. Beside URLs, otheraddressee, such as, for example, IP (Internet Protocol) addresses thatare used in a network may also be used as addresses of the imagegeneration apparatuses.

The address 301 includes multiple host names Host 1, Host 2, . . . Hostn (302, 304, . . . 306), and URLs URL 1, URL 2, . . . URLn (303, 305, .. . 307) corresponding to the host names Host 1, Host 2, . . . Host n,respectively.

When a host computer on the system starts as an image generationapparatus, the host computer notifies the request control apparatus 109of its host name and URL, and the request control apparatus 109 storesthe information (host name and URL) in the address list 301.

FIG. 4 shows a table 401 for managing job IDs. This table is stored inthe request control apparatus 109. The table 401 stores data necessaryof image generation, slip form data, combinations of print conditionsfor each of a plurality of job IDs. The request control apparatus 109stores in this table data specified or generated through steps 202through 205.

For example, the table 401 stores a job ID 402 that is generated in step205 in response to a specified print request, and a data set 403corresponding to the job ID 404, which includes data specified throughsteps 202-204, slip form data and print conditions. The data set 408 maystore data itself, or anything that indicates a place where data isstored, such as an address of the data stored.

A job ID 404 is generated in response to a print request that isdifferent from the print request for the job ID 402. A data set 405includes data, slip form data and print conditions corresponding to thejob ID 404. The data set 405 indicates that a plurality of slip forms(i.e., Slip 1 and Slip 2) are required. FIG. 4 indicates that aplurality of job IDs, Job ID 1, Job ID2, . . . Job IDn (402, 404, . . .406), and data sets containing data, slip form data and print conditionscorresponding to the respective job IDs are registered in the table 401.

FIG. 5 shows contents of image obtaining request data 501 that isgenerated in step 206. The image obtaining request data 501 contains ajob ID 502 that is generated in step 205 in response to a request thatis received in step 201, and a URL 503 of an image generation apparatusthat generates image data for the print request indicated by the job ID502. The request control apparatus 109 preferentially detects, among theplurality of image generation apparatuses under its management, an imagegeneration apparatus that has an allowance for image generationprocessing capacity, obtains an URL of the detected image generationapparatus from the address list 301, and stores the obtained URL in theimage obtaining request data 501.

<Obtaining Image Data>

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of processings in which the client 101 that hasreceived the image obtaining request data from the request controlapparatus 109 transmits an image obtaining request based on the imageobtaining request data to the image generation apparatus. Theprocessings shown in FIG. 6 continue from the processings in FIG. 2indicated at 601. In step 602, the client 101 receives the imageobtaining request data that has been transmitted from the requestcontrol apparatus 109 in step 207. In step 608, the client 101 directlytransmits to the designated image generation apparatus an imageobtaining request based on the job ID and URL that are indicated in thereceived image obtaining request data. At this time, the job ID istransmitted with the image obtaining request. The processings shown inFIG. 6 continue to processings indicated at 604 that are performed onthe image generation apparatus side (see FIG. 7).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of processings in which the image generationapparatus that receives the image obtaining request from the client 101generates image data and transmits the generated image data to theclient 101. The processings shown in FIG. 7 continue from theprocessings in FIG. 6 indicated at 701.

In step 702, the image generation apparatus receives the image obtainingrequest that has been transmitted from the client 101 in step 603. Instep 703, based on the job ID received together with the image obtainingrequest, a corresponding job ID is searched from the table 401 that ismanaged by the request control apparatus 109, and data necessary forimage generation, slip form data and print conditions corresponding tothe job ID are obtained from the request control apparatus 109. Morespecifically, to obtain these data sets, the image generation apparatustransmits the job ID to the request control apparatus 109 and requests asearch; and the request control apparatus 109 retrieves a correspondingjob ID, and transmits data sets detected as a result of the search tothe image generation apparatus.

In step 704, image data is generated based on the data sets obtained instep 703. For example, image data is generated by combining the datanecessary for image generation and the slip form data, and further theimage data is edited to meet the printing conditions.

In step 705, the image data generated in step 704 is transmitted to theclient 101 as a response to the image obtaining request. The processingsin FIG. 7 continue to processings indicated at 706 on the side of theclient 101 (processings shown in FIG. 8).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of processings in which the client 101 controlsprinting based on the image data received from the image generationapparatus. The processings shown in FIG. 8 continue from the processingsin FIG. 7 indicated at 801.

In step 802, the client 101 receives the image data that has beentransmitted from the image generation apparatus in step 705. In step 808the print output section 104 converts the image data received into datain a printable format, and the converted data is transferred to theprinter 105 where the data is printed.

The image generation apparatuses are equipped with the networkcommunication control section 118 and 118, respectively, such that eachof the image generation apparatuses has a function of a Web server. Inthe conventional system, when a client sends a print request to a Webserver that solely exists in the system, sessions with the server needto be maintained until image data is obtained. However, in one aspect,in the system in accordance with the present embodiment, a clienttransmits a print request and an image obtaining request withindependent HTTP requests to different apparatuses, as indicated in step201 and step 702. For this reason, the time for maintaining sessionswith the Web server can be shortened. Furthermore, since the requestcontrol apparatus and the image generation apparatus are separated fromeach other, the processing load is distributed between them.

Also, as indicated in step 205, a unique job ID is allocated to eachprint request. Therefore, even when a plurality of print requests occur,the client can obtain proper image data, and can clearly grasp theprocessing progress for each print request.

In the description above, the image generation apparatus starts creatingimage data in response to an image obtaining request from the client.However, the system may be arranged such that image data may begenerated before an image obtaining request is received from a client,so that image data can be promptly transmitted to the client.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of processings which include steps 901 and 902added to the processings in FIG. 2. In step 901, the request controlapparatus 109 transmits an image data generation request to a selectedimage generation apparatus. At this time, a job ID generated in step 205and data sets specified in steps 202-204 are transmitted together withthe image data generation request to the selected image generationapparatus.

In step 902, the job ID and a host name of the selected image generationapparatus are registered in a status management table. Also, a status“Being Generated” is also registered.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a statue management table 1201 that isretained and managed by the request control apparatus 109. The statuemanagement table 1201 stores a host name of an image generationapparatus that generates image data corresponding to a job ID, and aprogress status of generating data corresponding to the job ID for eachof a plurality of job IDs. Columns 1202, 1203 and 1204 of the statuemanagement table 1201 indicate job IDs, host names and progressstatuses, respectively.

For example, a row 1205 of the status management table 1201 indicatesthat image data corresponding to a print request whose job ID is hasalready been generated by an image generation apparatus whose host nameis “Host 1”.

The request control apparatus 109, in response to a status request fromthe client 101, returns to the client 101 information (host name andstatus information) corresponding to the job ID that is designated bythe status request. By so doing, the client 101 can grasp the progressstatus of an image generation processing for the print request.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of processings in which the image generationapparatus that has received the image data generation request from therequest control apparatus 109 generates image data, and stores thegenerated image data. The processings shown in FIG. 10 continue from theprocessings in FIG. 9 indicated at 1001.

In step 1002, the image generation apparatus receives the image datageneration request that has been sent from the request control apparatus109 in atop 601. In step 1003, the image generation apparatus obtainsthe job ID, data necessary for image generation, slip form data andprint conditions received together with the image data generationrequest.

In step 1004, image data is generated based on the data obtained in step1003. For example, image data is generated by combining the datanecessary for image generation and the slip form data, and further theimage data is edited to meet the printing conditions.

In step 1005, the image data generated in step 104 is correlated to tothe job ID and stored in the image data memory. In step 1006, completionof generating the image data together with the job ID is notified to therequest control apparatus 109.

The request control apparatus 109, in response to the notice ofcompletion of generating the image data, registers a status “GenerationCompleted” in the statue management table.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of processings similar to those shown in FIG. 7except that step 703 in FIG. 7 is deleted, and step 704 in FIG. 7 ismodified. In step 1104, the image generation apparatus searches imagedata corresponding to the job ID from the image data memory based on thejob ID received together with the image obtaining request. Then, in step705, the image data detected as a result of the search is transmitted tothe client 101.

As a result, the image generation apparatus can return image dataquicker in response to an image obtaining request from a client.

The present invention can be achieved by having a storage medium thatstores program codes of software that realize the functions of theembodiments described above supplied to a system or an apparatus, and byhaving a computer (or a CPU or an MPU) of the system or the apparatusread and execute the program codes stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program codes themselves that are read from thestorage medium realize the functions of the embodiment of the presentinvention, and the storage medium that stores the program codesconstitute the present invention.

The storage medium to supply the program codes may be a flexible disk, ahard disk, an optical disk, an optical magnetic disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R,a CD-RW, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card or a ROM.

Furthermore, the present invention is applicable not only when theprogram codes read by a computer are executed to realize the functionsof the embodiments, but also when an operating system that operates onthe computer performs a part or all of the actual processing based onthe instructions contained in the program codes and thereby realizes thefunctions of the embodiments.

Moreover, the present invention is also applicable when the programcodes that are read from the storage medium are written on a memory ofan expansion board inserted into a computer or of an expansion unitconnected to a computer, and a CPU provided on the expansion board or onthe expansion unit performs a part or all of the actual processing basedon the instructions contained in the program codes and thereby realizesthe functions of the embodiments.

It is clear from the description above that, in accordance with thepresent invention, an information processing apparatus that acceptsprint requests and an image generation apparatus that generates imagedata can be provided independently from each other on the system, suchthat the processing load can be distributed. Also by this system, aplurality of image generation apparatuses can be provided cm the system,and image data generation processings can be executed in parallel withone another.

Further, identification information to identify print requests ismanaged by the system in accordance with the present invention, suchthat statuses of print processing for individual print requests can hereadily grasped.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of thepresent invention, it will be understood that many modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claimsare intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the truescope and spirit of the present invention.

The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered inall respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of theinvention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than theforegoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning andrange of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embracedtherein.

1.-21. (canceled)
 22. A system including an information managementapparatus, an image generation apparatus, and an information processingapparatus, the system comprising: a management unit configured to, inresponse to a print request received from the information processingapparatus, manage, in the information management apparatus, (a)identification information for identifying the print request, (b)address information of the image generation apparatus of generatingprint data corresponding to the print request, and (c) image generationdata to be used when generating the print data in the image generationapparatus, by correlating (a) the identification information, (b) theaddress information and (c) the image generation data together; a firsttransmission unit configured to transmit the address information and theidentification information from the information management apparatus tothe information processing apparatus; a second transmission unitconfigured to transmit a print data generation request including theidentification information transmitted by the first transmission unit,from the information processing apparatus to the image generationapparatus identified by the address information transmitted by the firsttransmission unit; a third transmission unit configured to transmit theidentification information included in the print data generationrequest, from the image generation apparatus to the informationmanagement apparatus; a fourth transmission unit configured to transmitthe image generation data managed by the management unit and correlatedwith the identification information transmitted by the thirdtransmission unit, from the information management apparatus to theimage generation apparatus; and a generation unit configured togenerate, in the image generation apparatus, the print data by using theimage generation data transmitted by the fourth transmission unit. 23.The system according to claim 22, wherein the image generation dataincludes data necessary for generating images and form data.
 24. Aprocessing method in a system including an information managementapparatus, an image generation apparatus, and an information processingapparatus, the method comprising: a management step of, in response to aprint request received from the information processing apparatus,managing, in the information management apparatus, (a) identificationinformation for identifying the print request, (b) address informationof the image generation apparatus of generating print data correspondingto the print request, and (c) image generation data to be used whengenerating the print data in the image generation apparatus, bycorrelating (a) the identification information, (b) the addressinformation and (c) the image generation data together; a firsttransmission step of transmitting the address information and theidentification information from the information management apparatus tothe information processing apparatus; a second transmission step oftransmitting a print data generation request including theidentification information transmitted in the first transmission step,from the information processing apparatus to the image generationapparatus identified by the address information transmitted in the firsttransmission step; a third transmission step of transmitting theidentification information included in the print data generationrequest, from the image generation apparatus to the informationmanagement apparatus; a fourth transmission step of transmitting theimage generation data managed in the management step and correlated withthe identification information transmitted in the third transmissionstep, from the information management apparatus to the image generationapparatus; and a generation step of generating, in the image generationapparatus, the print data by using the image generation data transmittedin the fourth transmission step.
 25. The processing method according toclaim 24, wherein the image generation data includes data necessary forgenerating images and form data.
 26. A non-transitory computer-readablemedium storing a program for performing a processing method in a systemincluding an information management apparatus, an image generationapparatus, and an information processing apparatus, the methodcomprising: a management step of, in response to a print requestreceived from the information processing apparatus, managing, in theinformation management apparatus, (a) identification information foridentifying the print request, (b) address information of the imagegeneration apparatus of generating print data corresponding to the printrequest, and (c) image generation data to be used when generating theprint data in the image generation apparatus, by correlating (a) theidentification information, (b) the address information and (c) theimage generation data together; a first transmission step oftransmitting the address information and the identification informationfrom the information management apparatus to the information processingapparatus; a second transmission step of transmitting a print datageneration request including the identification information transmittedin the first transmission step, from the information processingapparatus to the image generation apparatus identified by the addressinformation transmitted in the first transmission step; a thirdtransmission step of transmitting the identification informationincluded in the print data generation request, from the image generationapparatus to the information management apparatus; a fourth transmissionstep of transmitting the image generation data managed in the managementstep and correlated with the identification information transmitted inthe third transmission step, from the information management apparatusto the image generation apparatus; a generation step of generating, inthe image generation apparatus, the print data by using the imagegeneration data transmitted in the fourth transmission step.
 27. Themedium according to claim 26, wherein the image generation data includesdata necessary for generating images and form data.